[the_ad_placement id="header"]
NASWCANEWS.ORG
  • Commentary
    • Feature
    • Messages
    • Opinion
    • Letter To The Editor
  • News
    • Announcements
    • Events
    • Around the State
    • News
  • Action

    20Lobby Day – Day 1

    SANTA MONICA OFFICE FOR LEASE: Residential Environment Designed Especially for Mental Health Practitioners

    19th Annual Hall of Distinction. Sunday October 17, 2021 from 1-2:30pm.

    19th Annual Social Work Hall of Distinction

    In Memoriam

    In Memoriam: Rino Patti, 85, dean and professor emeritus

    NASW-CA Members Get A $35 Discount When Enrolling In Exam Prep Course from Therapist Development Center – Limited Supply!

    Submit Your Nominations: 2021 NASW-California Chapter’s Annual Social Worker Awards

    SF & Marin Units Hosting Social Work Month Celebration On March 30th

    Reminder: NASW-CA Offering Scholarships For Online CEUs For Social Workers Affected By Natural Disasters

    SAVE THE DATE: 2021 Statewide Membership Meeting On February 4th!

  • Education
    • Professional Development
  • Reports
    • Region A
    • Region B
    • Region C
    • Region D
    • Region E
    • Region F
    • Region G
    • Region H
    • Region I
    • Los Angeles Region Map
    • California Region Map
  • Ads
    • Classifieds
    • Display Ads
    • How to Advertise
  • Membership
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
  • Commentary
    • Feature
    • Messages
    • Opinion
    • Letter To The Editor
  • News
    • Announcements
    • Events
    • Around the State
    • News
  • Action

    20Lobby Day – Day 1

    SANTA MONICA OFFICE FOR LEASE: Residential Environment Designed Especially for Mental Health Practitioners

    19th Annual Hall of Distinction. Sunday October 17, 2021 from 1-2:30pm.

    19th Annual Social Work Hall of Distinction

    In Memoriam

    In Memoriam: Rino Patti, 85, dean and professor emeritus

    NASW-CA Members Get A $35 Discount When Enrolling In Exam Prep Course from Therapist Development Center – Limited Supply!

    Submit Your Nominations: 2021 NASW-California Chapter’s Annual Social Worker Awards

    SF & Marin Units Hosting Social Work Month Celebration On March 30th

    Reminder: NASW-CA Offering Scholarships For Online CEUs For Social Workers Affected By Natural Disasters

    SAVE THE DATE: 2021 Statewide Membership Meeting On February 4th!

  • Education
    • Professional Development
  • Reports
    • Region A
    • Region B
    • Region C
    • Region D
    • Region E
    • Region F
    • Region G
    • Region H
    • Region I
    • Los Angeles Region Map
    • California Region Map
  • Ads
    • Classifieds
    • Display Ads
    • How to Advertise
  • Membership
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
NASWCANEWS.ORG
No Result
View All Result
Home Letter To The Editor

Letter To The Editor: NASW can and should do more to advocate for access to affordable healthcare in the United States

by Staff
March 23, 2021
in Letter To The Editor
Reading Time: 2 mins read
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Greetings –

In an effort to meet the grand challenge of “advancing long, healthy and productive lives,” the NASW can and should do more to advocate for access to affordable healthcare in the United States. According to the 2021 NASW policy priorities, there is a call to “protect and expand the ACA” (p.10) and “strengthen and modernize the public health system” (p.6). However, I urge the NASW to go beyond this statement and advocate for universal healthcare coverage, making quality healthcare available and affordable to all Americans. Even with the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2009, 10.9 percent of, or 28.9 million, non-elderly Americans remained uninsured (American Medical Association, 2021) prior to the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Further, while complete data is not yet available, approximately three million people may have lost their health insurance between March and September of 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2020).

Our current healthcare system is leaving millions without essential coverage. Even for those with insurance, high premiums and deductibles make healthcare unaffordable for many Americans, with more than 50% of adults indicating they have forgone medical care due to cost (AMA 2021; KFF 2020). Our current system is broken and favors the privileged. Accordingly, I urge the NASW to advocate for additional advancements to our healthcare system, including universal healthcare.

Sincerely,
Jessi Valenzuela
California State University MSW Student, Class of 2021

References

American Medical Association. (2021). 2021 and Beyond: AMA’s Plan to Cover the Uninsured. Retrieved February 20, 2021, from https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/2021-01/2021-ama- plan-to-cover-uninsured.pdf

Kaiser Family Foundation (2020). How Has the Pandemic Affected Health Coverage in the U.S.? Retrieved February 20, 2021, from https://www.kff.org/policy-watch/how-has-the-pandemic-affected-health-coverage-in-the-u-s/

National Association of Social Workers. (2021). 2021 Blueprint of Federal Social Policy Priorities. Retrieved February 20, 2021, from https://www.socialworkers.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=KPdZqqY60t4=&portalid=0


American Medical Association. (2021). 2021 and Beyond: AMA’s Plan to Cover the Uninsured. Retrieved February 20, 2021, from https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/2021-01/2021-ama- plan-to-cover-uninsured.pdf Kaiser Family Foundation (2020). How Has the Pandemic Affected Health Coverage in the U.S.? Retrieved February 20, 2021, from https://www.kff.org/policy-watch/how-has-the-pandemic-affected-health-coverage-in-the-u-s/ National Association of Social Workers. (2021). 2021 Blueprint of Federal Social Policy Priorities. Retrieved February 20, 2021, from https://www.socialworkers.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=KPdZqqY60t4=&portalid=0
Staff
Website |  + postsBio
  • Staff
    https://naswcanews.org/author/staff/
    Job Posting: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
  • Staff
    https://naswcanews.org/author/staff/
    Job Posting: Mental Health Therapist (CA License)- Remote, Summers Off
  • Staff
    https://naswcanews.org/author/staff/
    DisAbilities Council Meeting on May 16
  • Staff
    https://naswcanews.org/author/staff/
    SLO Unit: EMDR in the Treatment of Psychological Trauma and How to Access EMDR in the Community (1 CEU) on April 25

Related Posts

Letter To The Editor

Letter to the Editor: “A Social Worker’s Role: Equitable Vaccine Rollout”

March 23, 2021
Letter To The Editor

Letter to the Editor: Rebuttal To Recent Feature Article “Insights on a Virus”

September 24, 2020
Letter To The Editor

Letter to the Editor: What Policy Changes are Needed to Promote Social Justice for Families, Children, and Youth

September 24, 2020
Letter To The Editor

Letter to the Editor

September 24, 2020

National Sites:

NASW National Site
NASW Press
Social Workers Speak
NASW Blogs
Privacy Policy





Archives

Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

© 2020 naswcanews - All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Commentary
    • Feature
    • Messages
    • Opinion
    • Letter To The Editor
  • News
    • Announcements
    • Events
    • Around the State
    • News
  • Action
  • Education
    • Professional Development
  • Reports
    • Region A
    • Region B
    • Region C
    • Region D
    • Region E
    • Region F
    • Region G
    • Region H
    • Region I
    • Los Angeles Region Map
    • California Region Map
  • Ads
    • Classifieds
    • Display Ads
    • How to Advertise
  • Membership
  • Videos
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.AcceptRead more